Planning an India trip from overseas and want your trains sorted first? You can book Indian Railways tickets from any country through IRCTC. Here is the complete guide to booking from abroad — plus direct links to a step-by-step guide for your country.

Can You Book IRCTC From Abroad?

Yes. IRCTC (the official Indian Railways booking platform) works worldwide and is not geo-blocked — no VPN, and you do not need to be in India. The only real hurdles abroad are account verification (OTP to an Indian number) and paying with a foreign card, both covered below.

IRCTC Login & Registration From Abroad

Your existing account logs in from anywhere with your username and password. New account? During sign-up you verify an email and mobile — and you can register with an international mobile number so OTPs reach you. See IRCTC registration with an international mobile number.

The OTP Problem (Login & Payment)

IRCTC and banks often send a one-time password (OTP) to your registered Indian mobile — for verification and card payment. If you cannot receive Indian SMS abroad, keep that number on roaming/eSIM, or register an international number on your account so OTPs reach you.

Paying From Abroad

International Visa/Mastercard work through IRCTC's international payment option; if you hold an Indian bank account (NRE/NRO), linked UPI or net banking also works. Pick the right method and make sure you can approve the OTP — see how to pay on IRCTC with an international card.

Book From Your Country (Step-by-Step Guides)

The booking flow is the same everywhere, but payment options and booking times differ by country. Use your country guide:

• IRCTC login & booking from the USA
• IRCTC login & booking from the UK
• IRCTC login & booking from Canada
• IRCTC login & booking from Australia
• IRCTC login & booking from the UAE
• IRCTC login & booking from Saudi Arabia & the Gulf

Foreign Tourist Quota (For Non-Indians)

Foreign passport holders can use the Foreign Tourist Quota (FTQ), which reserves berths on many popular trains — see Indian Railways Foreign Tourist Quota: how to book.

Get a Confirmed Seat

Indian trains sell out early, so book up to 60 days ahead. If you land on RAC or waiting list, check your odds with will my RAC ticket get confirmed and track it on our PNR status tool.

Bottom line: you can book India train tickets from abroad on IRCTC — register with an international number, pay with an accepted international card, sort your OTP, and use your country guide for local payment and booking times.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I book Indian train tickets from abroad?

Yes. IRCTC works from any country and is not geo-blocked. You need a verified IRCTC account, an accepted international payment method, and a way to receive your OTP.

Do I need a VPN to use IRCTC from abroad?

No. IRCTC works directly from overseas without a VPN, and a VPN can sometimes make payment harder, so it is best avoided.

Can I use IRCTC without an Indian mobile number?

Yes — you can register with an international mobile number so OTPs reach you, or keep your Indian number on roaming/eSIM to receive the SMS.

How do I pay on IRCTC from abroad?

Use an international Visa/Mastercard through IRCTC's international payment option, or an Indian NRE/NRO account via UPI/net banking, and approve the OTP step.

Planning your India trip? [Check PNR status](/pnr) and [search trains](/search) on ConfirmYatra.